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OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


Southern   Publishing  Association   Print.      Nashville,  Tenn. 


Black  Smiles 

or  tKe 

£\Ei\i\y  Side  2/\Sable  Life 

by 

Fra.i\klin  Henry 


1027  Warren  St., 
NASHVILLE,        -        TENN. 


COPYRIGHTED, 


by 
BRYAN7    &    RENNINGS. 


D'aint  no  use  er  bein 

Loungin'  'roun'  er-lookin'  glum, — 

Make  er  sorrer  hate  tuh  come ; 

Keep  smilin'. 

Got  no  money  ?  —  what  yer  keer  ? 
Smile  er  smile  fum  ear  to  ear  ; 
Heaben's  happy,  don't  yer  fear  ; 

Keep  smilin',  keep  smilin'. 


Possums  clamin'  'simmon  trees  ; 
White  fokes  gruntuhs  fat  iz  cheese  ; 
Tu'keys  roostin'  in  duh  breeze  ; 

Keep  smilin'. 

Nigguh,  you  can't  coin  er  trillion  ; 
Can't  you  lib  on  watuhmilion 
Big  iz  Gools  n  Vanduhbillion  ? 

Keep  smilin',  keep  smilin'. 


Rudduh  be  er  smiler,  min, 

Right  widout  n  right  widin, 

Wif  duh  tickles  'roun'  muh  chin, — 

Keep  smilin', — 
Dan  to  dribe  an  automo' 
Wid  er  million  tons  er  woe 
Hangin'  on  muh  heaht,  you  know  ; 

Keep  smilin',  keep  smilin'  ! 


[3] 


Gra-ndpa's 
Fireside  Stories 
of  Sla-very   Da.ys 
In  Six  Poems 

Being   a 

R.eciteJ   of   Humoroxis 

Incidents 

Cha.ra.cteristic 


Negro  Life 
"Befo*  d\ih 


Cwisraus 


Gutter. 


Well,  hit's  neahly  Cwismus,  younguns,  n  I  s'pose  you 

want  tuh  hear 
Gram  per  'late  a  Cwismus  story ;  so  each  feller  git  his 

cheer. 
An'  of  co'se  now,  Sal  Malindy  wants  tuh  ride  on  gram- 

per's  shoe, 
N  if  she'll  be  quite  an'  pooty,  she'll  be  gramper's  sugar- 

doo! 

Now  it  come  about  one  Cwismus,  Mandy  says  'twas 

fifty-fo', 
Dat  ole  massa's  crew  er  nigguhs  axshilly  tried  dem- 

selves,  yer  know. 
Jeerns  hid  stole  er  poun'  er  backker,  n  ole  A'nt  Mer- 

liney  Wess 
Toted  off  er  ham  n  bacon  fum  ole  massa's  in  huh  dress. 


BLACK     SMILES. 


Well,  I  can't  begin  to  tell  yuh  what  dem  darkies  didn't 

stole ; 

But  ole  massa  couldn't  kotch  'em  dough,  dey  wuz  auda 
cious  bol'. 

Mas'  thought,  dough,  dit  he'd  git  even ;  so  he  simply 
helt  his  bref, 

'Termined  whin  he  kotch  er  nigguh, 
he  would  beat  him  ha'f  tuh  def. 

Now  ole  Pete  wuz  "hoodoo  docktur" 

on  ole  massa's  place,  you  see, 
N  he  claimed   dit  he  could  cunger 

white  n  black  n  bon'  n  free. 
Graveya'd  dirt,  n  rooster  spurs,  n, — 

shucks,  I  don't  know  what  all 

Pete 
Didn't  fix  up  fur  us  nigguhs, — hands, 

n  jacks,  n  rabbit  feet! 

Howsomeber,  all  dim  darkies  what 
had  one  er  Peter's  things, 

Would  outrun  duh  dogs  n  massa  lak 
iz  if  dey  went  on  wings. 

Stealin'  now  wuz  nachly  timptin,  iz 
der  craps  wuz  out  n  froo, 

No  mo'  work  twill  Febberwary,  hin 
hit  neahly  Cwismus,  too ! 


Now  hit  happened  Cwismus  Kve  night  wuz  er  drizzlin', 
freezin'  cole, 


CWISMUS    GRUNTER.  7 

Hin  yuh  know,  I  knowed  ole  massa  would  be  curled  up 

in  his  hole. 
Hince  hit  fell  out  so  dit  Peter,  who  wuz  awllus  mighty 

hunter, 
Wokes  me  up  twixt  twelb  n  'leben,  axed  me  how'd  I  lak 

some  grunter ! 

Whin  dat  nigguh  mentioned  grunter,  Mandy  riz  up  dare 

in  bed, 
'Sistes   me   in  boots   and   briches.      "  Ready   dreckly, 

Petes,"  I  said., 
Mandy  fixed  duh  pots  n  vessels ;  all  duh  chilluns  wuz 

awoke 
An'  wuz  'joicin'  to  see  daddy  gwine  tuh  git  some  Cwis- 

mus  poke. 

Got  my  rabbit  foot,  and  Peter  s'plied  me  wif  a  special 

hand, 
Made  to  fit  dis  axshil  'casion, —  piece  er  flannel  full  er 

sand. 
Peter  had  er  flint  n  pine  tawch, — Petes  wus  'fesshnul  in 

dis  sin ; 
See,    he    knowed   we   need   dat   tawch   tuh  blind  duh 

grunters  in  duh  pen. 

Now,  ole  massa  wuz  er  'spectin'  sumppun  nudder  to 

come  'bout, 
N  whin  we  got  to  his  pen,  suh,  ever  grunter  wuz  turned 

out! 


8  BLACK    SMILES. 

But  ole  Peter  says,  "  By  gummy  !     Squeeze  yuh  rabbit 

foot,"  says  he, 
u  N  jis  spit  upon  dat  flannel,  n  come  on  n  foller  me." 


In  a  minit  we  wuz  stan'in'  'fo  ole  massa's  front-yard 
gate; 

Dare  ole  Peter  works  his  jack,  n  whistle  low, 

n  din  we  wait 
Jis  er  secon',  n  ole  Rovuh,  massa's  big  ole 

nigger-hound, 

Walks  up  jis  iz  nice  n  gintly,  n  he  stood  dare 
friskin'  round ! 

Din  ole  Peter  led  right  on  in  to  ole  massa's 

garden,  where 
D'  wuz  er  box  off  in  one  cawnur,  n  er  fine 

young  grunter  dare, 
Which  ole  massa  wuz  er  'zervin'  'tickly 

fer  his  New  Year's  Day, 
Whin   dey   wuz    er    'spectin'    cumpny, 
some  big  folks  fum  fur  away. 

a  Hit  him  centur !  "  says  ole  Peter,  iz  he  blinds  him  wid 

duh  light ; 
N  I  raised  ole  massa's  ax  up,  n  I  nailed  him  wid  my 

might. 
But   he  squeal  once,  spite  er  hebens !    '  Chile,  I  stabbed 

him  in  duh  th'oat, 
Picked  him  up,  n  law,  sich  runnin', —  me  n  Peter  n  dat 

shoat ! 


CWISMUS     GRUNTER.  9 

I  wuz  leadin'  wif  duh  grunter,  pintly  flyin'  'cross  duh 

yard, 
Follered  by  ole  cunger  Peter, —  man,  I  wuz  er  runnin' 

hard, — 
Whin  ole  missus'  blamed  ole  clothes-line  cot  me  right 

beneaf  duh  chin, 
N  hit  lak  tuh  jurked  muh  head  off ;  folks,  hit  snatched 

me  out  er  win'. 

Hin  hit  flung  me,  hebens  honey !     Slap  ergainst 

ole  Peter,  too ! 
Dare  us  nigguhs  n  dat  grunter  had  er  mash  n 

smash  fer  true. 
N  ole  mas'  n  miss'  come  runnin',  wif  duh 

cow-hide,  light,  n  gun, 
'Fo'  we  riz ;  —  n  what  you  reckon  dat  dare 

pleggone  Peter  done  ? 

He  jis  grabbed  me  in  duh  collar,  n  he 

helt  me  to  duh  groun', 
N  he  holluhed,  "  Run  quick,  massa !     I 

done  got  duh  skawrnul  down ! " 
Mas'  11  miss',  bofe  in  deyr  night-clothes, 

conies  er  ruunin',  n  dey  say, 
"  Hole  'im,  Peter !    Blame  duh  debil !    Turn  him  ovuh 

right  away." 

Folks,  ole  Peter  bent  me  ovuh  dat  dare  carcus  of  er  hog, 
While  ole  massa  wif  dat  cow-hide  evuhlastin'  walked 
my  log! 


io  BLACK     SMILES. 

Yas  suh ;    dat  ole  white  man  stood  dare,  n  lie  beat  n 

beat,  by  gum; 
Plum  furgot  dit   he   wuz  freezin'  twill  duh  fros'   hid 

made  him  numb ! 

Well,  he  had  to  quit  ur  freeze  one ;  so  he  left  ole  Pete 

duh  light; 
Tole  him  dat  duh  tail  n  intruls  wuz  his  'ward  fur  actin' 

right! 

N  tuh  see  I  skint  n  gutted,  cut  n  hung  dat  grunter  up ; 
N  ole  missus  stept  n  brought  him  pint  er  wine  out  in  er 

cup ! 

Well,  I  skint  n  clean  duh  hog,  n  din  I  cuts  him  up  also; 
N  I  begs   while    I'm  er  cuttin',  Pete  tuh  hang  it  up, 

you  know, 
In  duh  smoke-house, —  n  ole  Peter  couldn't  stan'  tuh 

heah  me  beg, 
N  I  beat  him  out  dim  intruls !     Poured  um  down  my 

briches-leg ! 

I  jis  laid  it  all  on  Rovuh,  stanin'  lickin'  in  duh  pan ! 
N  I  left  ole  Petes  a-cussin',  wif  er  jack  out  in  his  han'. 
I  went  home !    Duh  chaps  n  Mandy,  heah  dey  all  come, 

gethern  me ; 
Says  she,  "  Sam,  you  smells  lak  grunter,  but  no  sign 

er  poke  I  see !  " 

"  Johnny,"  says  I,  "  pull  dis  boot  off.     You  pull  disun, 
Sally  Ann. 


CWISMUS     GRUNTER. 


n 


Jules  Mariar,  come  'ere  quick,  gal ;    bring  yuh  poppy 

dat  dare  pan." 
Jules  Mariar  fotch  duh  pan  dare ;  John  n  Sal  bofe  made 

er  pull ; 
Off  dem  boots  come,  n  dem  chittlins  haxshilly  filled 

dat  dish-pan  full ! 

Mandy  fell  right  in  dare  on  um,  n  duh  chilluns  couldn't 

speak. 
Bless  duh  Lamb !  duh  dad  done  brought  um  Cwismus 

miff  tuh  last  er  week! 
Law,  dim  hashlits  n  dim  chittlins.     Dough  I  did  hab  to 

be  beat, 
I  hid  rudduh  had  dim  chittlins  dan  tuh  been  ole  hoodoo 

Pete! 


THE  MILION  SEED. 


Well  now,  little  Sal  Malindy,  you  kin  sit  on  gramper's 

knee ; 

N  duh  res'  er  all  you  younguns,  you  jis  lis'n  heah  to  me ; 
N  I'll  tell  you  all  a  story,  showin'  how  it  awllus  pays 
To  be  hones'  n  be  trufeful,  by  a  tale  furn  slav'ry  days. 

Now  dis  'curred  way  down  in  Jawgy  on  er 
summuh  night  in  June, 

Whin  duh  milions  wuz  er-ripenin',  whin  duh 
nights  wuz  dahk  er  moon. 

Yes,  duh  time  I  riccomembers  well  iz  if 
'twuz  yistuhday ; 

But  it  happened  long  befo'  yuh  gram 
per's  wool  hid  gotten  gray. 

Well,    iz   we   hid   worked   lak   good 

folks,  all    duh    craps   wuz   done  laid  by, 

Massa  lets  us  hab  er  Vival,  nigguhs  come  fum  fur  n 
nigh. 


BLACK     SMILES. 


Dare  it  chu'ch  we'd  hab  our  preachin',  settin'  souls  fum 

Satan  free, 
N  we'd  stay  twill  neahly  midnight,  n  jis  hab  er  juberlee. 

Now,  not  fur  off  fum  duh  big  house,  n  right  clost  berside 
duh  road, 

Wuz  ole  massa's  watuhmilions, —  n  dey 

wuz  duh  bis  dit  growed ! 
N,  of  co'se,   'twuz    hewmun  na- 
chur, — well,  it  mout  er  been 

ole  Scratch, 

Dat  one  dahk  night  aftuh  meet- 
in'  brought  me  to  dat  milion 
patch. 


Now  it  seems   some  udduh  sin- 
nuh    had    been    monkeyin' 

roun'  dem  vines, 
N  ole  massa,  he  done  seed  it  by 

duh  seeds  n  impty  rines ; 
N  so,  on  dis  'ticklur  evenin'  he 
done  gone  dar  wid  his  gun, 
'Termined    dat   if    any   nigguh 
come  dat  night,  he'd  hab  some  fun! 

Of  dis  fac'  I  wuz  in  ignunce !     But  duh  Lawd  am  good 

a  heap, 
Faw  He  knowed  I  sho  wuz  hongry,  n  He  put  ole  mas' 

a  sleep. 


THE     MILION     SEED.  15 

N  my  moufe  wuz  jis  er  watern,  slobbuhs  runnin'  down 

my  chin, 
Iz  I  felt  about,  er-thumpin',  fer  a  good  one  to  begin. 


Well  I  run  upon  er  small  one, — jis  erbout  so  big,  you 

know; 
Brought  muh  hammuh  up  erginst  it, 

n  right  inter  hit  I  go. 
N  hit  all  hid  vanished  dreckly,  n  I 

wuz  is  hongry  still ; 
But  says  I  unto  muhse'f  din,  "  Nig- 

guh,  stay  n  eat  yo'  fill." 

So  I  hunted  'bout  n  foun'  er  great 
big  feller  which  did  thump 

Nachly  right,  n  off  I  jurked  it,  n 
begin  to  hunt  er  stump. 

Well,  right  off  er  little  dis- 
tunce,    de   ole  debil 
he'p  me  foun'  it, 

Up  I  walks  n  raise  muh  mil- 
ion,  n  upon  duh  stump 
I  poun'  it. 

Lawd  er  mussy!     Up  dat  stump  riz,  whin  dat  milion 

fell,  n  whoo! 
Y'  orter  seed  me  straighten  out,  boys ;  bless  yer  soul,  I 

nachly  flew! 
Faw  dat  "  stump  "  wuz  my  ole  massa !    Lef '  his  gun,  n 

he  to'  out 


i6 


BLACK     SMILES. 


One  way   home  n  me  ernudduh.     What   you  reckon 
come  erbout? 

Me  n  him  met  up  tergedduh  jis  er  few  feet  fum  duh  gate, 
N  he  knowed  me,  kaze  he  holluhed,  "  Hay  dare,  Sambo, 
blame  you,  wait !  " 

'Stat   you,    massa  ? "    says    I   p'litely. 
"Yas,    hit's    me."     His    flint   he 

scratch, 

Lit  er  candle  right  dare  on  me  :  "  You 
been  in  my  milion  patch." 

"  Lawzee,  massa  !  "   sclaims  I  loudly. 

"  Hush !  "    he   raise   his   han'    n 

said ; 
Hooked  me  in  duh  neck  n  spenders  n 

straight  in  duh  big  house  led ; 
Stuck  me  right  befo'  his  bureau,  hel' 

duh  candle  up,  n  law ! 
Dare  I  wuz  er  stan'in'  lookin'  hat  er 

seed  heah  on  muh  jaw! 

'Twa'n't  no  use  to  do  no  lyin' ;    I  jis  had  to  shet  my 

moufe. 
Massa  reached  up  fer  his  cowhide,  n  'twuz  wahm  fuh 

me  down  Soufe 
'Fo'  he  tuhned  me  loose,  I  tell  yer ;  n  he  nachly  fixed 

me  so 
Dat  I  had  no  inclernations  tawdz  dat  milion  patch  no 

mo'. 


THE     MILION     SEED.  17 

But  furevuh  aftuh,   chilluns,  whin  duh   cowhide  wuz 

furgot, 
Dare  wuz  one  thing  I  remembu'd, —  deep  down  in  my 

soul  it's  sot; 
Faw  whinevuh  Satan  timps  me,  wid  er  mean,  dishones' 

deed, 
I  kin  look  right  in  dat  bureau,  n  behol'  dat  milion  seed ! 


me  cfecret" 


What  keep  dull  gubennent  er-gwine  ? 

What  keeps  dim  enguns  puffin'  ? 
What  keeps  duh  white  folks  all  fum  dyin'  ? 

What  s'plies  um  wid  deyr  stuffin'  ? 
What  keeps  duh  wurl  up  in  deys  fis  ? 

How  come  dey  ride  n  rule  ? 
Duh  secrit  of  it  all  am  dis  : 

Duh  nigguh  n  duh  mule  ! 

Somehow  duh  nigguh  n  duh  mule 

Inclines  tuh  hang  tuhgedduh  ; 
You  can't  tell  which  duh  bigges'  fool. — 

But,  bud,  I'm  doubtin'  whedduh 
Ole  Dixon  Lan'  whar  I  wuz  bawn 

Would  'mount  tuh  ha'f  er  chiggtih, 
If  all  duh  mules  wuz  dead  n  gawn 

To  heaben  wid  duh  nigguh. 


[19] 


"SHAGGY. 


99 


All  right,  chilluns ;    git  'roun'  gramper ;   Lindy,  clam 

up  in  my  lap. 
All   git   quite,   n  den   I'll   tell   yuli  how   I   had  a  sad 

mishap 
In   duh  days  of   antebellum,  which  yuh  know  means 

slav'ry  time, 
'Fo'  duh  niggers  had  deyr  freedom  ;  —  y'all  are  ignunt 

of  duh  crime. 
^ 

Massa  had  a  lot  er  sheep  now,  n  some  dog  wuz  awllus 
roun', 

N  would  be  er-killin  muttons ;  —  mas',  dough  could'nt 
kill  duh  houn'. 

So  one  day  whin  he  wuz  'turnin',  habin'  made  er  wild- 
goose-chase, 

He  sends  word  down  to  muh  cabin  to  come  up  dare  to 
his  place. 

[20] 


"SHAGGY.*'  21 

Co'se  I  went,  n  says  he,  "  Sambo,  I's  done  run,  n  run, 

n  run, 
Try  in'  to  git  dat  plegged  cur  dog  in  duh  reach  er  dis 

here  gun. — 
Now,  I'm  gwine  tuh  simply  trus'  you  wid  dis  weepon 

dit  you  see  ;  — 
Git  each  dog,  n  yo's  duh  mutton,  all  'cep' 

one  good  piece  fer  me." 

Well    suh,    chilluns,     you    kin     'majun, 

maybe,  how  big  gramper  felt 
Wid  dat  muskit, —  shot  n  powder  hawns 

er-hangin'  fum  muh  belt. 
"  Yas,  suh,  massa  !  "  Y'  orter  hurd  me, — 

O,  I'd  riz  up  in  duh  sky ! 
So  I  watched  n  so  I  waited  fer  dat  dog 

dit  wisht  tuh  die. 


Seemed  like  dough  dit  somehow  'nudduh 

dat  ole  dog  jis  wouldn't  come 
Back  n  kill  ernudduh  mutton, —  Lawd,  I 

wuz  er-wantin  some ! 
But  dat  skawnul    stayed    erway,  suh;  — 

/ 

well,  I  most  wuz  in  despair, 

Whin    er    thought    popped    froo    muh    noggin,  n   hit 
he'ped  me,  I  declare. 

Now,  I  had   er  dog   name   "Shaggy,"  n  he  wa'n't  no 
count  at  all, — 


22  BLACK    SMILES. 

Kep'  him  tied  up  roun  dull  house  dare,  so  he'd  'scape 

ole  massa's  ball, 
Kaze  he'd  nachly  nail  er  mutton  evuh  day  if  he  wuz 

loose, — 
D'wa'n't    no    houn'    erbout   could   beat   him,   faw   he 

axshilly  beat  duh  doose. 

So  upon  er  Sunday  mawnin',  whin  I'd  waited  fer  a 

week, 
I  gits  up  n  turns  ole  Shaggy  loose  to  go  an'  mutton 

seek ; 
Off  he  go,  his  tail  er-danglin',  down  eroun'  der  hill  he 

creep ;  — 
"  Go  on,  dog,"  says  I  unto  him,  "you  go  out  n  slew  er 

sheep." 

Ha'f  er  hour,  ur  little  later, —  co'se  I  wuz  der  paster 
eyein', — 

N  what  seed  I  but  duh  muttons,  n  ole  Shaggy,  jis  er 

flyin' ! 
"  Put  duh  kittle  on  dare,  Mandy,"  says  I  untuh  gram- 

mer  whin 
Me  n  massa's  big  ole  muskit  hit  duh  road  n  split  duh 

win'. 

Whin  I  got  down  in  duh  hollow,  dare  ole  Shaggy  stood, 

yuh  know, 
Pan  tin'  'bove  er  big  fine  mutton  dat  duh  skawnul  done 

laid  low. — 


"SHAGGY."  23 

"  G'way  fum  dare'  you  grand  old  rascal," — bless  yuh, 

Shaggy's  tushes  bloom, 
N  he  bristles  up  dare  to  me, —  but  I  raised  dat  gun, 

"  Cur-boom!" 

Well,  dat  settled  it  wid  Shag 
gy ;    I  jis  hauled  him 
by  duh  sash 

Little  piece  off  fum  duh  mut 
ton,  lef  him   dare  fuh 
buzzard  hash. 

'Gainst  er  tree  I  lent  duh  muskit 
whilst  I  cut  me  down  er  pole 

So's  to  tote  muh  mutton  handy,  down  I 
retched  tuh  take  erhol', — 

Whin,  I  'clare  tuh  goodness  gwacious,  up  dat  blamed 

ole  mutton  rose, 
Froo  duh  briars  hit  went  er-flyin' !  but  right  aftuh  hit 

I  goes. 
Hebens,  chilluns !    y'orter  seed  us  sail  froo  stumps  n 

briars  n  ditches, — 
Los'  muh  hat  n  to'  muh  coat  off,  n  suh,  outrunned 

boots  n  briches ! 

• 
Heah  dat  mutton  went,  n  me  too,  up  in  down  all  n  dat 

holler, — 
Hit  seemed  'termined  to  be  leader, —  I  wuz  'termined  I 

would  foller! 


24  BLACK    SMILES. 

Well,    I   kotch   it ;  —  got  dull  booger ;  —  drawed  mull 

knife  ercross  hits  thoat. 
Went  on  back  n  foun'  muh  briches  n  some  pieces  of 

muh  coat. 


I   fuhgot  erbout  duh  muskit,  —  nit  had  done  no  good 

tuh  me,  — 
Shouldered  up  muh  big  ole  mutton ;  —  muskit  settin' 

side  er  tree. 
Well  ole  massa  watched  n  waited,  wondern  why  I  did'nt 

come 
Right  on  up  dare  to  duh  big  house  n  gib  him  n  missus 

some ! 

Finely,  he  got  tired  er-waitin',  so  he  walks  on  down  to 

where 
He  had  seed  me  stan'  n  shoot  at;  —  foun'  his  gun  n 

Shaggy  dare ! 
Picked   it   up   n   pulled   his   knife  out,   n   cut  off  ole 

Shaggy's  tail, 
Car'ed  it  on  back  to  duh  big  house,  —  waitin'  dare  iz 

mad  iz  hail ! 

Dreckly,  up  I  comes  er-steppin',  wif  er  quarter  dat  wuz 
prime ! 

Walked  right  on  up  in  duh  big  house,  —  proudes'  nig 
ger  of  duh  time ! 

"  Mawnin',  massa !  "  Y'orter  seed  me  bow  n  do  duh 
curtsey  hop,  — 


"SHAGGY."  25 

"  Thought   berhaps   dit   you  n  missus  mought  enjoy 
some  mutton  chop !  " 

Dar   ole   massa   sot   iz   stunly,  —  didn't  eben  crack  er 

grin! 
"Come  'ere,  nigguh,"  said  he  huffily;  missus  took  duh 

mutton  din, 


N  went  on  out  to  duh  kitchen  n  lef  me  in  dare  wid 

him, — 
Up  he  retched  behind  duh  bureau  fer  his  cowhide,  keen 

n  slim. 


"Whar   my    gun,    suh?"     "Hit's    at    home,   mas'!" 

"  Yes  hit  is,  fer  dat's  hit  dare !  " 
Hin  he  wahmed  me,  laws  er  mussy!   wahmed  me  up 

fum  heels  to  hair ! 


26  BLACK    SMILES. 

But  I  would'nt  er  mount  duh  wahmin',  —  dough  'twuz 

hot  iz  brimstone  hail, 
If  he  hadn't  to  my  briches  sewed  ole  Shaggy 's  bushy 

tail ! 

Wif  dat  thing  er-hangiii'  'hind  me,  all  dat  whole  long 

summuh  froo ;  — 
Evuhbody  called  me,  "  Shaggy " !  n  I  had  to  take  it, 

too. 
Well,  I  knows  you  chaps  is  weary ;  so  now,  off  to  roost 

n  sleep ;  — 
Don't  you  nevuh  dough  furgit  duh  two-legged  dog  dat 

kilt  duh  sheep. 


Well,    the   younguns   all    er-snorin',    so's    deyr  dad  n 

mammie  too ; 

Ebry  livin'  soul  am  sleepin',  Mandy,  'cepin'  me  11  you. 
An'  you  hand  me  Sal  Malindy,  she  kin  sleep  in  gram- 

per's  arms ; 
N  jis  draw  yer  cheer  up  closter,  so  I  kin  review  your 

charms. 

Lub,  duh  frosts  er  time  am  white  on  ebry  stran'  n  lock 

er  hair, 
N  duh  years  have  penned  deyr  'pistles  in  dat  face  once 

young  n  fair ; 
N  duh  light  no  mo'  am  sparklin'  lak  duh  sunshine  in 

yer  eyes, 
Which  by  faif  am  camly  lookin'  tawdz  duh  mansions  in 

duh  skies. 


28  BLACK     SMILES. 

An'  yo'  cheeks  hab  lost  duh  roses  which  in  young  days 
use  to  bloom ; 

N  my  head  lak  yours  is  blossomed  fer  duh  crown  bey  an' 
duh  tomb. 

Mandy,  little  Sal  Malindy  is  duh  very  spit  of  you 

When  we  met  n  loved  n  married,  way  back  dare  in  fifty- 
two. 

N  duh  dogwood  tree  am  standin'  down  duh  hill  dare  by 

duh  spring, 
Where  we  use  to  do  our  courtin',  where  we  use  to  lub  n 

sing, 
N  dat  May-night  when  we  married,  missus  spread  a 

bankit  dare, — 
N  if  happy  makes  er  angel,  on  dat  night  we  wuz  a  pair. 

I's  been  settin'  here  er-spellin'  in  duh  Gospul  writ  by 

John, 
In  duh  place  where  our  ole  missus  use  to  lub  to  dwell 

upon: 
"  In  my  Father's  house  are  many,  many  mansions,  n 

I  go 
To  prepare  a  place  dare  fer  you, — "  dat's  duh  most  she 

read,  you  know. 

N  while  thinkin'  on  dat  Scripsher,  mas'  n  mis'  comes 

back  to  me, 

N  I  sees  um  jis  iz  nachul  iz  in  life  day  use  to  be. 
Our  ole  massa, —  wa'n't  he  'culiar  ?    Yit  he  wuz  er  good 

ole  man, 


IN     DAYS     GONE     BY. 


N  I  bleaves  iz  you  do,  Mandy,  dat  he'll  reach  duh  better 
Ian'. 

One  thing  makes  me  lub  ole  massa, —  dough  he 

use  to  put  me  froo, — 
He  wuz  kind  to  all  our  younguns,  n  he 

wuz  so  good  to  you. 
Nebber  in  my  life,  n'  I   knowed  him 

clean  down  twill  he  taken  sick, 
Did  he  eber  on  er  ohman  lay  er  single 

angry  lick. 

N  he  neber  sol'  er  nigguh  ;  n  whin  one 

would  run  erway, 
He  would  git  no  dogs  to  ketch  him ;  —  down  unto  his 

dyin'  day 
Our  ole  massa  thought  it  sinful  thus  to  treat  er  helpless 

slave ;  — 
N  I  have  to  love  him  fer  it,  dough  to-night  he's  in  his 

grave. 

An'   you   know   I   lamed  to  read  n  write  er  ha'f-way 

decent  han' ;  — 
Co'se  I'se  told  you  how  I  larnt  it :    John  n  Henry  in 

duh  san' 
When  we'd  go  er  swimmin'  Sundays,  dey  would  make 

duh  alphabit, 
N  I'd  try  tuh  make  duh  letters,  n  dey'd  laf  twill  fit  to 

split. 


3o  BLACK    SMILES. 

Well,  dey  kep'  er-foolin'  wid  me,  n  I  tried  wid  all  my 

might, 
Twill  it   happened  Mr.  Sambo  got  duh  gif '  to  read  n 

write. 


Whin  at  last  ole  massa  kotched  me,  L,awd,  it  spoilt  his 

earthly  joys ; 
Co'se  I  had  to  name  my  teachers,  n  I  tole  him, —  'twuz 

his  boys! 

Chile,  you  know  I  thought  duh  cowhide  would  in  wraf 

on  me  descen' ; 
But  ole  massa  tuk  my  han',  n  spoke  to  me  iz  frin'  to 

frin' ; 
Splained  to  me  how  'twould  be  dang'us  fer  duh  fac'  to 

become  known, 
Axed  fer  his  sake  n  muh  own  sake  dat  I'd  leab  duh  ink 

alone. 


IN     DAYS     GONE     BY. 


Co'se  dat  wuz   in  time  er  slav'ry,  n  I  wuzn't  awllus 

good ;  — 
Well,  I  don't  spoze  dat  er  darkey  in  dim  days  jis  reely 

could 
Be  iz  good   iz   Christians  orter;    faw  his  youngsturs 

bound  tuh  eat, — 
Which  accounts  fer  stolen  muttons,  n 

my  scrapes  wid  Hoodoo  Pete. 

When  er  feller  gits  er  wife  n  chilluns 

nuff  to  number  nine, — 
Wif     deyr     stomachs    awllus    heavy, 

awllus    heavy  on  deyr  min', — 
Hit's  no  easy  job  to  feed  um!    How- 

somever,  you  n  Sam 
Stood  in  wid  ole  massa's  bacons  ;  —  us 

wuz  def  upon  his  ham ! 

But  der  Lawd  is  up  in  heaven,  n  ole 
mas'  is  in  der  ground, 

N  I  ax  muh  Lawd  n  Sabeiour,  if  er- 
gains'  duh  dead  be  found 

Any  sin  ur  wrong  by  Sambo, —  mut 
ton,  grunter,  ur  what  not, — 

Dat  He'll  please  duh  sin  forgive  me,  n 
fum  out  duh  Record  blot. 


You  remimber  well  iz  I  do,  dat  po'  ohman,  Sindy  May 
Wid  her  pooty  little  baby, —  how  she  tried  to  git  erway 


BLACK     SMILES. 


Fum  duh  State  er  Alerbamer,  way  back  dare  in  fifty- 
three, — 

Tried  ter  reach  duh  Queen's  Dominions,  where  der  peo 
ple  all  wuz  free. 

N    you    'mimbur,  lub,   you 
lint  her  dat  dare  bran' 

new  wusted  skirt, 
Which  I  bought  you  fer  yo' 
birfday,   n   my   flannel 

Sunday  shirt, 

You  cut   up  n  made   her   baby, 
—  little    helpless,    hongry 

thing,— 

Made  duh  little  chump  er  wrapper, 
which  we  fixed  on  wid  er 
string. 

N  I  helped  her  out  er  Jawgy  on 
her  way  to  Nawf  Ca'line ; 
Run  all  night,  n  got  back  home, 
suh,  broad  daylight,  'bout 

eight  ur  nine ; 

N  I  'scaped,  faw  hit  wuz  rainin'; 
but  had  hardly  made  it  back 

When  we  heard  duh  bloodhounds  yelpin',  hard  n  fas' 
upon  her  track ! 


I  kin  see  her  iz  dey  brought  her,  right  befo'  our  cabin 
do', 


IN     DAYS     GONE     BY. 


33 


Wif  her  little,  bloody  baby,  which  duh  hounds  had  kilt, 

you  know  ; 
N  I  still  kin  hear  her  screamin',  iz  dey  driv  her  'long 

duh  road, 
Bleedin'  lak  er  beef,  n  naked,  faw  duh  hounds  no  murcy 

showed. 


Say,  she  wuz  a  pooty  critter,  wid  dat  long,  black  wavin' 

hair 

Floatin'  all  eroun'  her  body,  in  dat  col'  Novimber  air ! 
N  it  seems  dat  God  in  pity  stretched  duh  clouds  ercross 

duh  sky, 
So  dim  beas'ly,  cruel  humans  moutn't  see  His  angels 

cry. 


Iz  dey  driv  her  by  duh  big  house,  mas' 

wuz  stan 'in'  at  duh  gate, — 
I  wuz  follerin'  'hind  duh  drivers,  hince  I 

heard  him  tell  um,  "  Wait !  " 
Run  his  right  han'  down  his    pocket,  n 

pulls  up  er  sack  er  gol', — 
Counted  out  two  hundred  dollars.    Missus 

took  dat  bleedin'  soul, 


Turned  duh  kiver  on  her  bed,  suh ;  —  n  her  face  wuz 

wet  wid  tears, 
Iz  she  stood  by  dyin'   Sindy,  in  whose  life  n  tender 

years 
Dare  wuz  only  shame  n  sorrer,  wid  no  one  to  take  her 

part 


34  BLACK 

Twill  'twuz  too  late ;  —  n  ole  missus,  —  chile,  we  thought 
'twould  break  her  heart ! 


Well,  I  guess  we'll  change  duh  subjics  ;  see  yo'  cheeks 

n  mine  is  wet ; 
Our  ole  mas'  n  mis'  n  Sindy,  all  done  paid  duh  final 

debt; 

N  it  soon  will  be  our  time  to  pass  away  n  be  at  rest,  — 
"  Peaceful    rest,"    so   runs    duh   poet,    n  "  its  waking 

s'premely  blest." 

Din  dare  come  duh  great  Rebellion,  hin  hit's  awlhis 

seemed  to^me 
Dat  dat  war  wuz  sent  perposely  fer  to  set  duh  nigguhs 

free. 
Seems  duh  Lawd  got  tired  er  waitin',  hearin'  argermints 

er  men, 
N  jis  raised  up  grand  ole  Lincoln  fer  to  wipe  erway  duh 

sin. 

N  you  know  dit  John  n  Henry,  all  dim  chilluns  massa 
had, — 

John  wuz  eberything  to  missus,  Henry,  all  unto  his 
dad, — 

Went  n  jine  duh  'Fedrit  forces,  spite  er  all  deyr  folks 
could  do ;  — 

N  poor  John  wuz  kilt  at  Shiloh,  sixdth  of  Apurl,  sixty- 
two. 


IN     DAYS     GONE     BY. 


35 


Henry  fell]  at  Chickermawger,  tawdz  duh  close  of  sixty- 
three  ; 

N  whin  it  wuz  told  to  massa,  "  Now  I  longs  tuh  die," 
says  he. — 

Well,  ole  missus  died  dat  Cwismus ;  you  wuz  stan'in' 
by  her  side, 

Kaze  I  mimbur  how  you  tole  me  dat  she 
lak  some  angel  died. 

Din  ole  massa  left  duh  big  house,  —  said 

'twuz  lonesome  ober  dare ; 
Said  he'd  rudder  share  our  cabin,  if  we 

had  er  room  ter  spare. 
So  we  squez  ourse'ves  up  closter,  —  n  hit 

wuz  dis  very  room 
Where  he  lived   fum   dat  time  onwuds, 

twill  we  cared  him  to  duh  tomb. 


You  remimber  whin  duh  Yankies  come 

along  in  sixty-fo' 
Dat  ole  mas'  wuz  on  his  def-bed, —  hit  set 

right  dare  by  dat  do'. 
Whin  dat  'bellion   first  wuz  started,  he 

wuz  rich  iz  any  man ; 
Whin  he  died  he  didn't  own  er  single 

thing  excep'  his  Ian'. 


Whin  duh  Yankees  come,  dey  stripped  him ;  burnt  duh 
big  house  to  duh  groun' ; 


36  BLACK    SMILES. 

Took  duh  hogs  n  cows  n  bosses; — ebery thing  he  had 

dey  foun'. 
Co'se  hit  went  to  scrush  duh  'bellion ;  —  bin  duh  darkies 

up  n  lef 
Wid  duh  army,  all  excep'in'  Pete  n  Mandy  n  myse'f. 

I  wuz  glad  dey  scrushed  duh  'bellion  ;  —  to  duh  victor 

b'longed  duh  spoil ; 
But  it  hurt  me,  chile,  to  see  um  'stroy  so  many  years 

er  toil, 
N  to  see  um  burn  duh  big  house :  dar  wuz  nuffin  else 

so  dear 
Unto  us,  excep'  dis  cabin, —  dear  ole  cabin!  hit's  still 

here. 

Whin  dey  lef,  ole  massa  called  me,  n  I  went  n  tuk  his 

ban'; 
Says  he,  "  Sam,  I  see  dey  lef  you  ;  —  wonder  if  dey  lef 

duh  Ian'?" 
"  Yas,  sub,  massa,"  says  I  sadly;  de  ole  man  wuz  layin' 

low ; 
N  he  says,  "  Now,  Sam,  I'm  dyin',  n  dare's  one  thing 

'fo'  I  go 

"  Dat  I  'zires  to  leab  here  wid  you."     N  he  pulled  dis 

Bible  out 
Fum  his  piller,  wid  dis  paper,  which  of  co'se  you  knows 

about. — 
"Dis  my  will  fer  you  n  Mandy," — (you  wuz  somewhere 

out-er-do's) — 


IN     DAYS     GONE     BY. 


37 


"Lay  me  side  yo'  good  ole  missus, —  all  dull  Yankees 
lef '  is  yo's ;  — 

"  Good  bye,  Sambo  !  "    Dim  duh  las'  words  dat  on  earfe 

he  eber  said ; 
Closed  his  eyes,  n  'fo'  I  knowed  it,  our  ole  massa,  —  he 

wuz  dead. 

N  I  kin  not  keep  fum  thinkin',  if  in  heaben  bright  n  fair 
Chris'  has  'pared  a  single  mansion,  mas'  n  mis'  am  got 

one  dare. 


An'  duh  years  am  fastiy  flyin' ;  hain't  none  lef  but  me 

n  you; 
N  we  soon  mus'  leave  our  cabin,  n  accep'  er  mansion 

too. — 
Lis'n  here  at  Sal  Malindy, —  hain't  she  mo'  din  mawtul, 

say?  - 
Well,  I  bleave  I's  read  er  Scripsher;   so  den,  Mandy, 

s'pose  we  pray. 


PASS  DAT  BISKIT." 


Now,  befo'  we  leave  duh  table,  all  you  youngsters  git 

plum  quite, 
Faw  I  see  I'll  hab  to  show  you  what  is  wrong  n  what  is 

right. 
Co'se  we  kin  excuse  Malindy;  she  is  gramper's  baby 

yit; 
But  hit's  time  you  udder  younguns  wuz  er  larnin'  little 

bit. 


I  remimber  whin  er  youngster,  lak  you  youngsters  is 

terday, 
How  my  mammie  taught  me  manners  in  a  'culiar  kind 

er  way. 
One  er  mammie's  ole  time  'quaintance, —  Missus  Dooney 

wuz  her  name, — 
Wuz  one  night  our  mammie's  cumpny, —  mammie,  co'se, 

prepared  fer  same. 

[39] 


40  BLACK    SMILES. 

Mammie  fixed  her  cookin'  vessels;   me  n  Son  n  little 

Sis, 

We  wuz  heppin'  'roun'  er-doin'  little  dat  n  little  dis, 
Faw  our  mammie  had  dtih  sifter,  n  wuz  makin'  up  some 
dough, 

Which  would  soon  turn  inter  biskits, —  Law 
—  we  all  wuz  smart,  you  know. 

Faw  hit   wuzn't   custymary  whin  I  wuz   er- 

comin'  up, —  er 

'Cep'  hit  wuz  whin  we  had  cumpny, —  to  hab 
,  biskits  hot  fer  supper. 

|      N  of  co'se,  on  sich  ercasions,  mammie'd  only 

bake  er  few, 

N  she  nachly  'spec'  us  younguns  to  put  up 
wid  one  er  two. 


Now,  hit  happened  whin  dim  biskits  reached 

duh  table  on  dat  night, 
Dat  my  exercise  had  s'plied  me  wif  er  whalein'  appur- 

tite! 
'Zerves  n  biskits  on  duh  table !    Honey,  I  could  skasely 

wait 

Fer  my  mammie  to  adminstur, —  I  jis  had  to  pass  muh 
plate. 

N  Mis'  Dooney, —  good  ole  lady, —  f awked  er  biskit  off 

fer  me  ; 
N  she  had  to  keep  er-fawkin'  twill  she'd  fawked  off  one, 

two,  free ;  — 


"PASS     DAT     BISKIT."  41 

Hin  hit  wuzn't  many  minutes  'fo'  I  'plies  fer  number 

fo';- 
Mammie   frowns    n   han'   me   cold  one, —  drapped  dat 

blame  thing  on  duh  flo' ! 

"  Hab   er   biskit,   Sister    Dooney,"   mammie  said,  n   I 

turned  blue, 
Iz  she  shoved  der  plate  up  to  her,  dare  wuz  only  'main- 

in'  two. 
"Not  quite  ready,   Sister  Mandy," — n   she  pass  duh 

plate  tuh  son; 
"In  er  minit,"  'splains  Mis'  Dooney,  "  I  will 

try  ernudder  one." 

I  had  bit  dat  ole  cold  biskit, —  tough  ernuff  to 

choke  er  goat, — 
N  I  don't  know  how  I  swallud,  but  I  swallud, 

cleared  muh  th'oat, 
N  I  looks  it  Missus   Dooney,  faw  I  see  duh 

biskit  she's 
Workin'  on  am  gettin'  scacer:  says  I,  "Pass 

duh  biskits,  please." 

Missus  Dooney  kep'  er  tawkin',  n  er  munchin' 

on  her  bread ; 
She  n  mammie  kep'  er  tawkin',  jis  iz  if  I'd  nuthin' 

said. 
"Pass  der  biskits,  please  ma'am,"  says  I,  little  louder 

din  befo' ;  — 


42  BLACK    SMILES. 

Law,  you  orter  seed  how  mammie  frowned  up  dare, — 
j  is  sorter  so. 

Missus  Dooney  nebber  heard  me,  —  dat's  duh  way  dat 

she  let  on, — 
N  her  little  piece  er  biskit  in  er  minute  would  be  gone  ; 


N  dare  wa'n't  but  one  mo'  lef,  suh;  —  man,  I  stretched 

up  in  muh  cheer, — 
Says  I  wif  muh  fawk  uplifted,  "Pass  dat  biskit,  don't  yer 

hear?!" 


Yas  suh,  chilluns,  bet  yer  money,  dat  dare  biskit  come 

to  me ! 
"  Hab  some  mo',"  says  mammie  to  her.     "  No,  I  thank 

yer,  Sis,"  says  she. 
Mammie  says,  "  Jis  come  in  front,  din  ;  dain't  no  use 

fer  you  to  wait." 
N  iz  soon  iz  dey  had  gone  out,  'zerve-dish  sot  right  in 

muh  plate ! 


"PASS     DAT     BISKIT."  43 

Mammie  come  on  back  dare  dreckly, — jis  iz  hot  iz  bees 

n  ants  ;  — 
Up  she  hists  me  fum  dat  table,  n  she  rolls  me  out  muh 

pants,  — 
Hitched  my  head  up  'twix  her  knees,  suh,  great  big 

luther  strop  assisted, 
N  whin  she  had  'formed  her  duty,  all  dem  biskits  done 

dijisted. 

Bet  yo'  life,  I  sho'  remimbud,  youngsturs,  evuh  aftuh 

dat, 
Dit  whin  'zerves  wuz  on  duh  table,  dey  wuz  dare  to  be 

looked  at ! 
N  'bout  takin'  las'  er  victuals, —  marnmie  sho'  did  me 

convince 
'Fo'  I  got   back   in  dim  briches  !  —  I'se  had  manners 

evuh  since. 


BOJCAM 


Make  ace,  younguns  ;    me  n  grammer  wants  you  to  be 

still  n  quite, 
N  to  listen  to  duh  story  dat  I'm  gwine  tuh  'late  tuh- 

night. 
Sal  Malindy,  whar   you,  honey  ?     Dat's  er  sweet  gal, 

come  to  gramp  ;  — 
Well  din,  go  on  to  yo'  grammer,  you  audacious  little 

scamp. 


Dis  wuz  in  dull  days  of  actions,  iz  we  used  to  call  urn 

den, 
Whin  we  all  b'longed  to  duh  white  folks,  n  wuz  slaves 

instid  er  men. 
N  it  wuz  'long  in  Novimbuh,  'simmon  season  wuz  on 

han', 
N  sweet  taters  baked  wid  'possum  wuz  duh  go  in  Dixie 

Lan'. 

[45] 


46  BLACK     SMILES. 

N  of   co'se,  you   all   know  'possum,  whin  hit's  baked 

right  good  n  brown, 
Wid  duh  stuffins  n  duh  taters  floatin'  in  duh  grease 

eroun', 
Wif  er  few  red  pods  er  pappah,  so's  tuh  make  hit  sorter 

hot, 
Is  duh  bes'  stuff  dat  er  ohman  evuh  put  in  pan  ur  pot. 

Now  ouh  dog,  his  name  wuz  Bulljuh, —  smartuh  dog 

hain't  wo'  er  hide, 
Faw  dat  houn'  would  sho'  kotch  possums, —  n  I'm  sorry 

yit  he  died. 
Well,  on  dis  Novimbuh  evening,  long  befo'  duh  clock 

struck  eight, 
Bulljuh    treed,  n   I  goes  to  him,  —  great  big  possum, 

sho'  iz  fate! 

Up  I   clamed  up  'mungst  duh  'simmons,  vygrusly  I 

shook  der  lim', 
Down  he  come,  n  good  ole  Bulljuh  butters  biskets  dare 

wid  him ! 
I  gets  down  you  know  n  feel  him,  hin  he  wuz  jis  rollin' 

fat; 
'Way  we  went  back  to  duh  cabin,  skint  him  'fo'  'yo' 

mought  say,  Scat ! 

Mandy  had  duh  pots  er  bilein'  time  I  got  duh  possum 
clean, 


'POSSUM. 


47 


N  I  turned  him  ovuh  to  huh,  dumped  him  in  duh  grub- 
machine. 

N  I'll  tell  yuh,  dat  dare  grammer  'zackly  done  huh 
dooty,  too  ; 

Whin  she  fixed  er  possum,  sonny,  hit  wuz  cooked 
now,  hin  hit's  troo. 


She  wuz  on  duh  whole  plantation,  bes' 

cook  on  ole  massa's  place, 
N  whin  she  got  froo  er  cookin',  done 

me  good  to  ax  duh  grace ; 
N  when   possum  decked  duh  table, — 

well  I'll  jis  be  took  n  hung 
If  I  wuzn't  skeert  whin  swallun  dat  I'd 

s waller  teefs  n  tongue. 

But  to  'turn  to  dis  heah  possum.  Sizely 

iz  duh  clock  struck  nine, 
Dat  dare  booger  wuz  er-lookin'  axshilly, 

nachully,  'zackully  fine ! 
"  Yas,  he  done  now,"  grammer  says,  n 

slices  off  his  hams,  you  know, 
Kase  we  greed  to  treat  duh  white  folks  ;  done  it  mos'ly 

fer  a  show. 


Well,  yer  grammer  got  her  bonnet,  put  dim  hams  upon 

er  plate, 
N  went  on  up  to  duh  big  house. —  Lawd,  I  poss'bly 

couldn't  wait 


48  BLACK     SMILES. 

Twill  she  come  back,  so  I  slip  in  to  dull  kitchen, —  n 

I  sware ! 
Bendin    right    above    dat    possum,   wuz    some   feller, 

sinackin'  dare  ! 


Folks,  I  jis  slip  right  up  on  him, — jis  muh  socks  on, 

co'se  you  know, — 
N  I  kicked  duh  skawnul  so  hard  dat  I  sprained  muh  lef ' 

big  toe ; 
Knocked  him  slap  across  duh  oven  settin'  dare  upon  duh 

coals, — 
Law,  I  riz  him  fum  dat  possum !     'Way  out  in  duh  flo' 

he  rolls. 


But  you  mought  er  seed  me  lookin',  iz  ole  massa  riz  up 

dare, 
N  snatched  off  er  piece  er  scantlin',  n  begin  tuh  cuss  n 

sware ! 
"  Mussey,  massa,"  I  'gin  pleadin',  "  Law,  I  didn't  spoze 

'twuz  you !  " 
"  Well,  you'll  spoze  'twuz  me,  ber  golly,  by  duh  time 

dit  I  gits  froo." 

t 

Oh,  he  wool  me  'roun'  dare  scan'lous,  wif  dat  piece  er 
timbuh,  chile ; 

All  duh  darkies  heard  me  hollern  n  come  runnin'  fer  er 
mile. 

But  duh  lickin  didn't  hurt  me  ha'f  is  much  iz  I  pre 
tended  ;  — 


'POSSUM. 


49 


I  wuz  sholy  mort'ly  skeert,  dough,  my  probation  days 
wuz  ended. 

Well  when  he  got  froo  er-beatin',  off  he  go  upon  his 

hoss. 
Mandy  come,  n  us  n  Bulljuh  made  up  fer  duh  time  we 

loss 
Foolin'  'roun'  bein'  good  to  white  fokes ;  —  evuh  possum 

Bulljuh  kotched 
Aftuh  dat,  you  bet  yer  dolluh,  white  fokes'  tushes  never 

to'ched. 


Mandy  says,  "  Sam,  ax  duh  blessin',''  iz  down  to  duh 

dish  we  sot, 
Kaze  dare  wuz  er  plenty  possum  still  remainin'  in  duh 

pot. 
Says  I,  "  Massa  Jesus,  please  suh,  bless  dis  possum  fer 

ouh  sake, 
N  may  dat  which  mas'  n  miss'  got  gib  urn  bofe  duh 

stumuck-ache !  " 


MOTHER. 


Cover's   turned   and   bed   is   ready,    and   I'm    in    my 

"  nighty  "  dressed ; 
"Napper"  sends  the  "gapers"  for  me,  and  they  lull 

me  off  to  rest; 
But  before  I  leave  for  "  Dreamland,"  just  before  I  reach 

the  bed, 
I  am  kneeling,  and  my  mother's  soft,  warm  hands  are 

on  my  head. 

[50] 


BLACK    SMILES.  51 

"Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep,"   I  hear  that  mother 

gently  say, 
And  repeating  what  she'd  tell  me,  learned  my  infant 

lips  to  pray. 
Often  as  I  say,  "  Our  Father,"  still  that  mother's  face 

I  see, 
Just  as  when  I  was  her  "  tootsy,  "  with  my  head  upon 

her  knee. 

And  when  down  to  sleep  I  lay  me,  when  my  lips  in 

death  be  dumb, — 
When  I  sleep  that  sleep  she's  sleeping,  till  the  Prince 

of  Life  shall  come; 
If  I  wake  to  life  immortal,  and  with  her  bright  glory 

share, 
It  will  be  because  that  mother's  love  is  living  in  that 

prayer. 


AN  ODE  TO  MOTHER  EARTH. 

[The  inscription  of  this  ode  is  made  to  the  fairest  flower  of  the  GREAT  MOTHER 
of  whom  I  sing,  Daisy. 1 


Sweet  Muse,  bequeath  my  pen  thy  lasting  charrn, 
Soon  shall  my  lips  be  dumb,  my  heart  be  still. 

While  life  bestows  its  strength  unto  my  arm, 
Grant  thou  my  ink  thy  living  charm  to  thrill 
The  souls  of  men.     These  words  with  beauty  fill, 

That  men  may  pause  amidst  life's  fevered,  ruinous  rush 
And  see  in  Mother  Earth  thy  pictured  will. 

What  blossoms  here,  forbid  that  Time  should  crush 

When  sleeps  my  lonely  soul  in  Death's  eternal  hush. 


O  Earth,  enduring  Mother  of  us  all ! 

How  fair,  how  lovely  still  thy  wondrous  face ! 
Who  knows  thy  years,  save  God?     Who  can  recall 

Time  when  thy  mundane  bounds  were  born  to  space  ? 

Thou  wast  thy  Maker's  bride  and  formed  to  grace 

[52] 


BLACK     SMILES.  53 

His  Universe ;  Jehovah  chose  thee  for  His  own ; 

Thou  left  His -love,  forsook  thy  Lord's  embrace 
For  Man,  thy  most  unworthy  son  ;  to  groan 
For  him, — vain,  wretched  worm, — thou  queen  of  heaven's 
throne ! 


For  him  thy  tender,  loving  bosom  bleeds ; 

Thy  form,  once  wrapped  in  Glory's  robes,  I  see 
Clad  now  in  rags  of  woe  for  Man's  misdeeds  : 

Still  down  the  ages  rings  thy  whispered  plea, 

"  Father,  forgive  !  "     What  mother's  love  can  be 
Like  thine,  O  Dolor  Mater !     Millenniums  of  tears 

Have  washed  thy  cheeks ;  the  scourge  of  sin  on  thee 
Hath  left  its  scars,  and  on  thy  face  appears 
The  furrowed  field  which  Death  hath  ploughed  through 
all  thy  years. 

And  yet  how  beautiful  thou  art,  O  earth ! 

How  generous  in  thy  grief !     How  great ! 
What  beauties  to  thy  bosom  owe  their  birth  ! 

What  charms  are  thine,  thou  miracle  of  Fate ! 

Thy  husband  is  thy  God,  and  on  thee  wait 
Angelic  hosts,  all  armed  with  bright,  celestial  steel ; 

These  guard  thy  first  and  glorious  estate 
Until  thy  travail  end,  until  thou  feel 
Our  Father's  kiss  upon  thy  cheek  and  wear  His  seal. 


54  AN     ODE    TO     MOTHER     EARTH. 

And  I  have  loved  thee,  Mother  Earth ;  I'm  thine. 

Thy  soul,  thy  lot,  thy  likeness,  all  I  claim ; 
Thy  fate,  thy  griefs,  thy  hopes,  thy  prayers  are  mine ; 

I  love,  and  own,  thy  nature  and  thy  name. 

May  God  forbid  that  e'er  a  blush  of  shame 
Should  kiss  the  crimson  in  thy  grief -stained  cheek 

For  deed  of  mine.     Be  mine  the  noble  aim, 
The  purpose  lofty,  pure ;  be  mine  to  seek 
The  secrets  of  thy  joy,  and  not  a  sorrow  wreak. 

Enchanting  is  thy  loveliness  in  life  ! 

Thy  beauteous  form  in  Ocean's  ruffled  blue 
Bespeaks  thy  royalty,  proclaims  thee  wife 

Unto  Jehovah,  and  in  all  thy  sorrows  true. 

Oft  have  I  thought,  as  gently  to  my  view 
Thou  wouldst  unfold  as  unto  one  beloved  thy  breast, — 

Oft  have  I  thought,  and  with  the  thought  I  grew, 
That  on  thy  brow  Creation's  crown  should  rest, 
Since  thou  of  all  the  countless  worlds  art  loveliest. 

And  what  is  Man,  that  thou  shouldst  him  regard  ? 

A  wanderer  from  thy  love ;  his  chosen  lot 
So  often  cast  in  sin ;  a  heart  as  hard, 

Unfeeling  as  the  stone ;  his  day  a  blot 

Upon  the  calendar  of  Time ;  forgot 
As  soon  as  sinks  his  sun  ;  his  friends  rejoice  to  weep 

For  him  in  death, —  in  life  they  love  him  not. 


BLACK    SMILES.  55 

Thy  love  endures  :  back  to  thy  arms  we  creep, 
Sad  wrecks  of  sin,  and  rest  in  thy  beloved  sleep. 

The  guiltiest  thy  heart  forgives  and  spreads, 

The  lovely  mantle  of  forgetfulness 
Above  the  deeds  of  shame  that  crown  our  heads, 

Above  our  sins,  too  dark  to  e'en  to  God  confess. 

Such  monumental  love  no  words  express, 
No  bosom  save  thy  own  couldst  bear.     Without  a  dream 

To  tincture  guilt  with  well-deserved  distress  ; 
Devoid  of  hope,  if  Justice  be  supreme ; 
We  sleep,  whilst  pleads  thy  living  love,  "  O  God,  re 
deem  ! " 

And  soon  shall  dawn  thy  morn  of  restoration. 

For  thee  the  tender  heart  of  God  doth  yearn  ; 
Thou'lt  share  with  Him,  the  Sovereign  of   creation, 

The  gifts  which  love  for  Man  didst  make  thee  spurn. 

Thy  God  shall  come  to  thee ;  and  thy  return 
To  favor  with  thy  Lord  will  wake  to  ecstasy 

• 

The  dwellers  of  the  universe  ;  they  shall  discern 
When  thou  shalt  mount  thy  pristine  throne  to  be 
Queen  with  thy  God,  what  love  was  thine,  and  envy 
thee. 

Expectant  Earth,  when  folded  in  thy  breast, — 
When  I  shall  sleep  with  all  thy  children  dead, — 


56  AN    ODE    TO    MOTHER    EARTH. 

When  Death,  thy  silent  messenger  of  rest, 
Shall  raise  thy  flag  of  truce  above  my  head ; 
I  hope  to  wake  enraptured  from  my  bed 

To  see  thee  crowned,  to  see  thee  robed  in  golden  flame, 
To  hear  from  angels'  lips  the  summons  read 

That  welcomes  thee  to  God.     I  hope  to  claim 

A  sweeter  tongue  to   sing  the  love   that   crowns   thy 
name. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


DEC 


BMJRL 

REC'D  COL.  LIB. 


131968 


Form  L9-25m-8,'46  ( 9852 )  444 


PS 
3503 


384lb     Black  smiles. 


PS 

5505 

B641b 


